“Looks like it might be,” replied Jack briefly.
“Russian or German?” asked Frank.
“Can’t tell,” said Lord Hastings, who had been peering at the cloud of smoke through his glass. “I can make out that it is a battleship, but that’s all. However, we shall know soon enough.”
Slowly the cloud of smoke came nearer and nearer, until at last the dim outline of a large battle cruiser of the second class was plainly visible to the naked eye. But still those aboard the D-16 were unable to make out her nationality, for she flew no flag.
“We’d better get ready to dive in case she proves to be a German,” said Lord Hastings.
“Right you are, sir,” replied Jack, and turning, went below.
Frank and Lord Hastings remained upon the bridge.
Now, of a sudden, there came a faint “boom” across the water.
“Can she have sighted us, sir?” asked Frank anxiously. “Had we not better dive at once?”
“No, I don’t think she has sighted us,” replied Lord Hastings.